by A. L. Moore
He smirked before sinking his teeth into the last bite of apple. “From the sound of your date tonight, you might need one,” he said, tossing the rest of the apple in the trash before disappearing down the dark hall, leaving me to pick my jaw up off the floor.
Chapter 12
(Four years prior)
Standing in Katy’s driveway, the last thing I wanted to do was let go of Thomas's warm hand. It had been a perfect day. The kind of day that could only happen during the summer. We'd spent the day at the river with Katy and Rusty, soaking in the warm sun and splashing in the near frigid river. The cold water hadn't bothered me nearly as much with Thomas's arm around my neck. When it had gotten dark, Thomas and I'd escaped everyone and gone for a walk through the fields. Thomas had even gone barefoot, just like me. His sopping wet shoes were sitting on my back steps drying, thanks to Rusty throwing them into the river. We’d mostly talked about his daddy, the few memories he had with him and what it would be like if he were released anytime soon. Thomas didn’t think he and his dad would ever be close again. He wasn’t sad about it. Time had a way of doing that to people or so he’d said.
By the time we'd made it back to Katy's, everyone had gone inside except for Rusty and Katy, and they'd been busy...saying goodnight. It wasn’t long before Rusty'd jogged across the street, leaving Katy alone on the porch. She waited on me for a while, but even she'd finally given up and disappeared inside the brightly lit house. I just couldn't bear the thought of walking away from Thomas. It was more than just the warm feeling that stirred in my stomach when he was close or the chills that never left my skin when he was touching me. I didn’t want Thomas to go back to the Tyner’s cluttered house, where dirty clothes were more abundant than food. Worse yet, I was afraid the Tyner’s would start fighting again and Thomas would get hurt, or worse. I hated that he had to live there. He didn't talk about what went on at home, but he'd let it slip that there were nights the Tyner's were so loud, he and Rusty couldn't get to sleep. Giving my hand a gentle squeeze as we watched the expansive bright stars overhead and listened to the song of the cicadas, he didn’t seem too eager to leave me either, but we both knew it was inevitable. My daddy had already yelled for me twice, and I knew he’d be calling the Johnson’s soon, if he hadn’t already.
“Will you be in trouble for staying out this late?” Thomas asked, leaning against the enormous oak tree at the edge of Katy's yard. His hands held both of mine, our fingers interwoven and hanging between us. I shrugged indifferently and a slight smile played on his lips, because he knew better. He knew how much trouble I would be in for staying out. “Lying and breaking the rules,” he teased, the streetlight catching in his green eyes and making it impossible to look away. “I hope I’m not the reason you’re coming over to the dark side.” Any other time I might’ve laughed, but not with the Tyner’s house in clear view. There was something dark about them that I was only now beginning to see.
“Do you think everything will be okay tonight?” I asked, unable to shake the uneasy feeling growing in my gut at the thought of our night coming to an end.
Bringing our conjoined hands up, he brushed my cheek and smiled. “Should be,” he said unconcerned, letting go of one hand and twirling me under his arm like we were dancing. “You should leave a window open just in case,” he teased.
“I’m serious,” I insisted when he spun me into his chest. “I don’t want you to…”
His lips effectively stopped the next word leaving my mouth. It was nothing like how Rusty kissed Katy, and it was over before I could really process what was happening, but it was absolutely perfect. Pulling back, the sweetest smile curved his lips before he turned to leave me. I was too stunned to even lift a hand in goodbye.
Daddy let me have it the moment I crossed the threshold. He'd never raised his voice to such a high level with me before, but he didn't hold back this time. Apparently, he’d called the Johnson’s and Katy's daddy had ratted me out, but I didn’t care. He could yell and ground me until doomsday, and I wouldn't be sorry. I had a hard time concentrating on his words and knowing when I should speak. I was floating. Other worldly delirious. Thomas had kissed me and nothing else mattered. After the red cooled from his face, I went straight to my room and stuck Holiday Barbie under the bed.
***
The next morning, I could hardly wait to get dressed and get outside, but Mama had insisted we sit and have breakfast together. Today was her due date, and that meant no more bed rest. She was already busy working on a huge platter of pancakes and sausages by the time I trudged in. Her large stomach barely missed the kitchen chairs when she turned from the counter. I took out the orange juice and poured a couple glasses. Daddy always drank it with his coffee.
“Set two extra spots,” she said, setting two more plates on the counter as I handed Daddy his juice. “Your Daddy’s hired some boys to help out this morning.” Daddy smiled in thanks, letting me know he wasn't angry with me anymore.
“Help doing what?” I asked, turning back for the plates and wishing she’d hurry up. She’d made at least twenty pancakes already.
“One of the feed troths needs repairing and the animals need worming.” Daddy said over a steaming cup of coffee.
“Okay, gross, not before breakfast.”
Mama chuckled and peeked out the kitchen curtain, juggling the huge platter of pancakes. “You asked.” Daddy grabbed the platter from her hands with a disapproving look. It was a wonder the weight of the pancakes alone hadn’t sent her into labor. As soon as the platter hit the table, I forked a pancake.
“Wait,” Mama said, giving my arm a whack with the spatula. “The boys will be here in a minute.”
“Since when do we wait on anyone?” I asked annoyed, dropping my fork loudly to the table and folding my arms. Katy was probably already with Rusty by now. We’d hired help last summer too and they’d eaten on the back steps.
“This help is different,” she said, exchanging a secretive smile with Daddy, who just rolled his eyes and shook his head.
I saw Thomas through the curtain before he knocked and felt my face heat under his gaze.
“Come on in here, boys,” Daddy said, waving them in as if Thomas were a mere mortal and not the third best thing to ever walk this earth: Jesus, Daddy and Thomas. After last night, Elvis had been bumped.
They were both dressed in jeans and boots. Thomas had on a long-sleeved, green and white flannel shirt rolled up to his elbows, with his hat in his hands. Rusty hesitated by the door in jeans and a worn t-shirt. He’d never been in my house that I could remember.
“Sit down,” Mama encouraged with a bright smile as she held her protruding belly.
Thomas pulled out the chair next to mine, looking at me for the first time since he'd walked through the door. I felt my face flame as I focused on the swirling pattern on the plate.
“Mornin’,” he said, his pinky touching my hand beneath the table.
“Hey,” I managed, biting into my lip as a chill swept up my arm.
“Thank you for coming over with such short notice,” Daddy said oblivious to what was going on next to him, passing the plate of sausage around. “I had some fellas from town coming out, but they canceled at the last minute. I just can’t afford to pay what these big farms are paying.”
“No problem,” Thomas spoke up, taking a few links from the oval, green rimmed platter and passing it to Rusty. “We’re glad to help, right, Rusty.” Rusty nodded, his mouth already full of pancake. “I’ve been meaning to ask if you had any more work.” Thomas said, reaching for the syrup.
Daddy nodded, thoughtfully, “If you’re available, I can keep you busy the rest of the summer.”
I could practically feel Thomas’s mood lift. “That would be great, sir.”
My pancake had grown in size since Thomas had walked in. I was having trouble getting the second half of it down. Good thing my appetite wasn’t needed this morning. Between Thomas and Rusty, not as much as a crumb of bread was left sticking to the platter. I
didn’t see how Katy managed to eat enough to stay skinny if her brothers ate like this every day.
Mama started clearing plates when Thomas and Daddy stood up. Rusty stood by the door, chewing on the last piece of sausage.
“Don’t you forget to give them a water break,” Mama warned Daddy as he headed for the door. “It’s near a hundred out there already.”
“They’re big boys,” Daddy said, giving me a pointed look to get busy helping Mama.
Grabbing the glasses, I scooted around the table and stepped past Rusty. I felt Thomas’s familiar tug on my ponytail, making a grin stretch my face, before he disappeared out the door. Going to Katy’s wasn’t at the top of my priority list anymore. I helped Mama with the dishes and then went out to take care of my other chores. The chickens were easy, leaving me and our refrigerator empty handed. I saved Addy for last, planning a long ride by the water, but unfortunately Thomas and Daddy had her occupied. I trudged back inside to escape the heat. It had grown more insufferable as the morning had passed. Katy came over for lunch after I told her the boys were here. We were both disappointed when they didn’t come inside to eat. Daddy took them sandwiches to the barn. It was clear by the smell that came in with him why, too.
After making up for practically skipping breakfast, Katy and I headed down toward the water. We’d just made it to the edge of the field, where the crops met the tree line, when Thomas and Rusty came at us running. Rusty threw Katy over his shoulder and didn’t stop until they were in the river. Thomas arched a brow, a playful smile curving his lips. I backed up a few steps as he drew closer, but in the end, he took my hand and we walked down to the riverbank together. Katy's laughter echoed off the trees. Rusty sat shirtless, stretched back against a large, smooth rock near the middle of the water. Thomas dropped my hand and started unbuttoning his sweaty, flannel shirt before sticking it inside his hat and leaving them beneath a tree. Reclaiming my hand, he grinned, “You ready?”
“I don't think,” I said, trying and failing to pull my hand from his grasp. I was still fully dressed in jean shorts and a t-shirt. "I didn't put on a suit."
My breath rushed out as he scooped me up before I could take another step. This was nothing out of the ordinary for Katy, but it took me off guard. Besides his hand in mine or across my shoulders, Thomas and I had been fairly hands-off. His hands held tight to my thighs as he trudged through the cold water, splashes reaching my toes. Setting me on my feet, the cold water was the furthest thing from my mind as he kept his arms loose around my waist. Smiling down at me in a way that left no argument, I hesitantly ran my hands around his heated, slick neck. My eyes zeroed in on his lips. We were closer now than we'd been last night. The feel of his warm skin pressed against mine where my shirt rose above my belly button was like nothing I'd ever felt before. With the heat coursing through me, I thought for sure the water around us would start boiling any second.
“Hey,” Rusty said, splashing cold water in our direction. "None of that! Didn't you hear her daddy?" he kidded. Thomas blinked water from his eyes and let me go, keeping my hand beneath the water.
My eyes zeroed in on Thomas. "You talked to my daddy about us?"
Thomas brushed water from his hair and shot a look toward Rusty. "More like he talked to me when he came over this morning." My mouth dropped. Daddy hadn't said a word about going to the Tyner's, at breakfast.
"He came to your house?"
Nodding, he said, "Before the sun was good and bright."
My cheeks flamed with embarrassment. I couldn't believe Daddy would do something like that without talking to me first. "What did he say?" I asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.
"Just reminded me of your curfew is all."
Rusty chuckled, "That's not what I heard." Thomas shot Rusty another look that shut him up quick.
This was bad. The butterflies in my stomach had grown steel wings. "Tell me what he said, Thomas?"
He sighed, clasping his fingers behind his head. "He's just being a dad, really. He reminded me of your age…and then he offered us the job." The way Thomas glared at Rusty I knew there was more Thomas wasn't saying.
“Are you working here tomorrow?" Rusty asked Thomas as he grabbed his t-shirt from the bank and dried his face.
“I figure I’ll be here every day until school starts back,” Thomas said hopeful, looking back toward my house.
“Not me,” Rusty said, holding his reddened arms out in front of him. “Sun is cooking me. I’m not made for farm work.”
Katy grabbed his sunburned arms and, nearly causing my lunch to resurface, started talking about work he could do indoors. Now I splashed them. “Gross, gross, gross!”
“Don’t hate,” Katy said, sounding so much like Rusty it made me sick. “I was only joking anyway. Heck, people only have to look at each other in my house to have a baby. Just ask my mama.” She was right about that. It seemed like her mama had been pregnant more time than not for as far back as I could remember.
The sun had started to set as Thomas waded us back toward the bank, his hands on my hips as he whispered into my ear. “What are you doing later?”
“Later?” I questioned. We usually spent our evenings together. “Are you going somewhere?”
He laughed at my pouting lip. “Just to clean-up. Shower. Maybe try to find some clothes that don’t smell like your hogs.
"Do you want to meet at the fields after supper?” he asked.
“Supper?” Rusty spoke up. He was listening intently now, his eyes wide.
“I thought you might want to try the diner since I left you out last time,” Thomas told him.
“What last time?” Katy interrupted, cutting her eyes to me. “Did you go out with him?” she said appalled, like I’d gone with Rusty and not Thomas.
“It was just breakfast,” I assured her. I’d meant to tell her before now, but it seemed so insignificant after the kiss. I suddenly felt much worse. I hadn’t told her about that either. I could handle her being mad at me, but she looked hurt as she climbed to the big rock and jumped to the bank. Rusty chased after her, confusion covering his face.
“Looks like I screwed up,” I sighed.
Thomas climbed out and reached back to help me, but I was already by his side. "You go get things cleared up with Katy and meet me back here at eight?” he winked.
I nodded and took off to Katy’s as fast as my legs would carry me. Rusty was walking across the road when I got there. Katy sat on the porch swing, her crossed leg pumping the air.
“I was going to call you last night,” I said breathless, my hands on my knees, “but then he kissed me, and I forgot.”
She squealed so loud I was sure her mama was going to come out. “He kissed you!” She nearly fell getting off the swing, sending it crashing into the back of the bannister. “How was it? Did he use his tongue?”
“Woah, slow down,” I said, holding her shoulders back. She was on the border of hyperventilating. “No tongue.” Her face fell, like I’d said he didn't have one.
“It was still good,” I insisted as she sat back down.
This brought back a little of the enthusiasm. “When did it happen?” she asked, eagerly patting the swing beside her.
“It was after you went in last night.
“It’s been less than twenty-four hours ago. You can’t be upset. You were busy popping corn out there with Rusty for Lord knows how long, and you didn’t tell me,” I reminded her.
She grinned hugely, tucking her blond hair behind her ears. “Would you have wanted to know?”
“Okay, I see your point,” I said quickly before she got the wrong idea. “I’ll tell you next time.”
She took my pinkie with hers. “No secrets,” she vowed.
I just nodded. I hated lying to her, but I’d never be able to tell her about the Tyner’s without betraying Thomas, and I’d never do that.
When I got home, I found a note that Daddy had taken Mama to the hospital. He said he’d call when there was news. I found s
omething to eat in the kitchen and watched the clock. It had been nearly an hour and a half since Thomas had left. He was probably back by now. I wanted to tell him about Mama. We’d probably need him to help out more until Daddy got back. I stacked my dishes in the sink and barreled out the door. Glancing over my shoulder as I neared the field, I almost didn’t recognize the Tyner place with all the cars lining the front of the road. They never had company. Not seeing Thomas around, I headed across the street. Peering around a blue minivan, I saw Mr. Tyner’s car in the drive. I started up the cement walkway. The front door was propped open, and I could hear several people talking. A tall, chalky man met me before I got to the steps. He didn’t seem to notice me at all, climbing into the van. As soon as he pulled away another car took his place. A woman got out this time. She was younger than the man, closer to Thomas’s age, but older. Her hair was an unnatural blond beneath black roots. She smelled so strongly of cigarettes when she walked by, I fanned my face to keep from choking. I wondered if Thomas knew her but decided against it when she didn’t give him a second look as he jumped over the bannister.
“What are you doing here?” He snapped. “I told you eight.”
“I know but I wanted to tell you about—”
“You need to leave,” he cut me off. I hesitated, trying to look around him where everyone congregated in their front room. “Now!”
When I didn’t move, he disappeared back in the house and slammed the door in my face. I ran back across the street, not stopping until I was in my room.
Chapter 13
Mama brought Jenny home on a rainy Thursday afternoon. Large, warm raindrops ran off the umbrella I positioned over the car door. As soon as the door opened, the smell of baby powder drifted out to greet my nose. Jenny looked even bigger than she had in the hospital. Mrs. Johnson had taken me and Katy up to see her yesterday. I carried the car-seat in to where the bassinet was set up in the living room, while Daddy helped Mama, despite her protest that she was fine, onto the couch and propped her feet on a pillow. Jenny’s eyes scrunched as I lifted her close to my chest in the rocking motion I’d seen Katy’s mom use when John Tyler was a baby. Jenny was so pretty. Mama said she could’ve been my twin had her hair been darker. I hoped it would darken.
